Euro 2008 Schedule (Another Rant)

[ScottyXS]

Why, oh why oh why are the next group games on at the same time!!!??

Both games will now be played at 19.45, as opposed to 1 at 17.00 and the other at 19.45. Meaning, unsettling channel swapping aside, that we can only catch 1 of the 2 games.

Surely this is mad, isnt the whole point of the Euros and the World Cup meant to be that the games are scheduled at different times to allow the competition to be followed game-by-game??

Cant see why they would tease us with the allowing us to watch the 1st 2 group games, then change it for the 3rd, anyone got any idea??

[A-Team]

are you kidding me? it's the same for every international tournament.

it would be a massive advantage to play the 2nd game in such a situation knowing exactly what you needed to get through. the 2 teams playing 2nd would obviously play out a draw if it suited them both.

[Robbie1960]

FIFA changed the scheduling of the last group matches so that they would be played on the same day and time in 1982. Austria played out a game with W. Germanyat the World Cup in 1982 knowing that both of them would go through to the next stage at the expense of Algeria, who had played the previous day.

[ScottyXS]

Ah, now I see!! d'oh! Thanks for the info guys

[bowles10]

Originally Posted by ScottyXS

Ah, now I see!! d'oh! Thanks for the info guys

then again, just to suit you armchair fans, they could always chnage the format back! NOT!

was you on the sauce last night scotty!

[evilchris]

[DJ]

Would be good if they showed the game again, after the other game had finished so that you could still watch both games back to back. Although I guess that would still prevent us from taking betting winnings and using it for the next game... which of course is the real issue here.

[alexmac]

It is ALWAYS like that, for every big tournament. If it is such a big deal to you, just Sky+ one of the matches and watch it back to back with the 'live' one...

[Guy Fawkes]

It's the same as last day of the fooite season...... Just makes it fair for everyone.

[Valiant23]

I'm not sure its ALWAYS been like that though.


I'm pretty sure that it was brought in after the World Cup where Austria and W Germany 'played out' a draw to ensure that Algeria were eliminated.

Could be wrong though.

[aliando]

scotty - if you have a computer and a tv in the same room, live stream the one and watch the other on tv

http://www.punterslounge.com/forum/f82/

[ScottyXS]

Thanks for the suggestions fellas, I dont even have that excuse bowles

Maybe I live in a bubble, but never occured to me about unsportsman-like behaviour being the reason does make sense tho.

Only reason I could think of was maybe thats the only way teams could activley take part in penalty shoot outs (without the need to come back out later on) should a draw in the table occur, but thought that one through for a sec.

DJ is bang on though about another REAL reason Im pissed (not literally here boys )
Won quite a lot of money on these Euros, and now can only bet on half the games, sad times

Will just watch 1 of the games live on telly, and record and watch the other 1 later on. bang, bang.

[Darren]

Biggest problem I have had with Euro 2008 is the hosts. As said far too often "You wouldn't know there was a major football tournament here". Japan and in particular Korea where strange but amazing hosts of WC 2002. These 2 nations don't seem to give a shit, gave up on the thing before it had even started.

Also the host nation(s) upgrade stadiums to host the event. I dunno about the 2006 World Cup, but the Portugese grounds that hosted Euro 2004 are rarely full, and the venues of this event aren't likely to often be either.

Take tonights game, full house, 30k+. Host team are more used to 3-4k.